뉴스레터

Records of Joseon (Korean) missions in Japan, which had been requested jointly by private organizations from Korea and Japan, were added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in October 2017. The objective of adding the documented heritages to the Memory of the World Register began in 2015 when the Busan Cultural Foundation proposed to the Japanese Foundation of the Council of Contract to add records of Korean missions to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. After years of efforts, the two countries jointly applied for the registration of records related to Joseon missions. Finally, the registration was decided at the 13^th advisory meeting of the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. A total of 333 articles from 111 documents were registered and records related to Korean missions make up 124 articles from 63 documents while those related to Japan make up 209 articles from 48 documents.

Records related to Korean missions are intellectual heritage that recorded and portrayed 200 years of peaceful exchanges between Korea and Japan after the 1592 Japanese Invasion of Korea based on their respective historical experiences. The registration will serve as an occasion to boost universal human values such as peaceful coexistence and respect for other cultures.

Relics of Joseon Missions Registered at the Memory of the World Register in Yamaguchi Prefecture

The Yamaguchi Prefecture, in the Choshu Domain ruled by the daimyo Mori, a feudal lord, during the Edo period, produced prominent figures such as Hirobumi Ito, Aritomo Yamagata, Shinsaky Takasugi and Yoshida Shoin, who played prominent roles in the Meiji Restoration. Out of the 25 institutions in Japan preserving 48 documents related to Korean missions, seven institutions and seven documents are in the Yamaguchi Prefecture. Considering that Yamaguchi was a small, politically unimportant prefecture, this is an overwhelming amount of relics to be found in one prefecture - especially compared to more politically important and mission-filled areas such as Tsushima, Osaka, Kyoto and Edo.

This reflects the Choshu Domain's profound interest in Korean missions. Most relics related to missions were produced in the Choshu Domain generally in the 18th century and various records were produced intensively since the mission of 1711. Daimyo Mori Yoshimoto established the domain's school Meirinkan in 1718 to promote learning inside the domain and it is likely that he actively used missions to foster such learning.

Beginning with the mission of 1711, the Choshu Domain allowed its accomplished scholars to carry out academic exchanges with other academic circles and publish the results at the "domain's order." The Choshu Domain was probably the only entity that published what was discussed in academic exchanges as a single book during the Edo period. The exchanges through writings and paintings were never incremental. Thus, it is necessary to closely examine and study the relevant documents while taking note of the Choshu Domain's characteristics and attitude towards the overall treatment of the mission in light of the academic exchanges.

The following is a brief introduction of the relics from Korean missions registered at the Memory of the World Register in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

List of Presents the Korean Mission Gave in the First Year of Jeongdeok

(List of presents the mission gave to Choshu Domain’s daimyo Mori Yoshimoto)

After giving the Korean mission special treatment in Shimonoseki, Mori Yoshimoto earned the reputation that said “his reception in Shimonoseki is the best.” The mission gave presents to Mori as a token of their appreciation and are designated as Japan’s “cultural property.”

Record of Joseon Envoys

(Record of entertaining the Korean mission by the Choshu Domain in 1711)

This record encompasses scenes from the first academic exchanges. It portrays how special treatment was given at the domain’s order.

Painting Depicting the Korean Mission Climbing the Castle in the Fifth Year of Yeonhyang

(Painting depicting the mission climbing the Edo Castle to present the shōgun with a sovereign’s message in 1748)

The painter, who was one of the spectators, recorded his appreciation of the parade, the portraits and rumors among local people, and scenes of the mission. This is the sole artwork showing then Japanese people’s awareness of the mission and their longing for other cultures.  

Scrapbook of Korean mission’s chief envoy Jo Eom in the 14^th year of Boryeok

(Scrapbook chief Jo Eom presented in appreciation for former daimyo Si Yoshinari’s sincere hospitality in Tsushima on his way back home in 1764)

It is a luxurious “folding scrapbook” ornamented with gold thread in which China’s ancient poems are written in diverse calligraphic styles.

Painting Depicting a Korean Ship Entering Kaminoseki

(Painting depicting the scene of six vessels from the Joseon mission entering Kaminoseki, Setonaikai, under the escort of the Choshu Domain’s ships)

This is presumed to be the painting from the mission of 1764. It is precious as a written document because few paintings depict the ships of the mission navigating Setonaikai.

Painting of Seupdeuk

(Painting by Kim Myeong-guk, a prominent painter from the late Joseon Dynasty who accompanied the Korean mission in 1643 as an artist)

“Seupdeuk,” a legendary monk who resided at the Gukcheong Temple in Mt. Cheontae, Zhejiang Province during the Tang Dynasty, was treated specially by the descendants for his bizarre appearance and because he was said to be the incarnation of Bodhisattva.

Record of Academic Exchanges Involving Choshu Domain scholar Hada Suzanne

(Record of Choshu Domain scholar Hada Suzanne who conducted academic exchanges with envoys in 1764)